Prayer

Here Am I: Called For God’s Purpose
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Here Am I: Called For God’s Purpose

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 25 days I will continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day eight with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God according to His purpose and for His purpose.

Called For God’s Purpose

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.“
Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Does what you do each day have a purpose?  What is it?  Does knowing the answer to that help to motivate you to do what only you can do?  Why?  What if you don’t know the purpose?  Does not knowing mean there isn’t a purpose?  Explain.  What are some of God’s purposes for His children that He has revealed in His Word?  Will pursuing those purposes give you greater belief in the purpose He has for you?  Why?  How will living as one called according to God’s purpose change the way you view tasks and circumstances that you don’t understand?

Often just knowing there is purpose to our work makes it more enjoyable, even if we don’t fully understand the purpose.  The Bible gives us many purposes for the believer’s life which generally revolve around making Christ known and glorifying our Father.  When we live with a pursuit of the holy purposes of God, we learn to trust that he can use our ordinary tasks of life to accomplish His extraordinary purpose.  As God calls you for His purpose, trust Him to do good works through you and to work all of your circumstances together for good.

As you pray, ask God to increase your faith so that you would have a greater trust in the goodness of His purposes.  Pray that you would respond in a positive way to God’s desire that your life fulfill the purposes He has revealed in scripture.  Pray that God would open your eyes to see how He has worked, and continues to work, in the details of your life in order to accomplish His good purpose.  Pray that you would be patient in waiting for God’s purpose to be completed in His time.

In prayer,

Tom  

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Encouragement & Prayer (5/10/20)

 

This is the audio from the May 10, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Here Am I: Called to Fellowship
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Here Am I: Called to Fellowship

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 26 days I will continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day seven with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God to be faithful through a life of patient endurance.

Called to Fellowship

“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”
1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)

Who are the people you like being with the most?  Why?  Do you consider yourself a “people person” or not?  How does that influence your desire to be with people?  How much time do you spend with God?  What does that time look like?  How do you feel about God calling you into fellowship with Jesus?  Does knowing He desires fellowship with you determine how much time you spend with Him?  Why?  Does that fellowship make a difference in the fellowship you have with others?  In what way?

While it can be somewhat confusing to figure out if we belong in the fellowship of a group of people, God leaves no doubt about His desire when He calls us into fellowship with His Son.  It is in the context of this fellowship that He also calls us into fellowship with one another.  Through our fellowship with God we ought to find commonality to have fellowship with others.  When I think of fellowship with God, I consider one of my favorite Bible characters — Enoch, a man who walked with God in such a way that one day his daily walk continued uninterrupted from this earth to God’s presence.

As you pray, ask God to help you fully believe His invitation to a greater fellowship with Jesus.  Pray that being called into fellowship would increase your desire and commitment to spend time with God.  Pray that you would be known as one who walks with God.  Pray that your fellowship with other believers would grow as you deepen your fellowship with God.  Pray that you would be actively involved in making others aware of God’s desire to have fellowship with them.

In prayer,

Tom  

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Encouragement & Prayer (5/9/20)

 

This is the audio from the May 9, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Here Am I: Called to Be Faithful
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Here Am I: Called to Be Faithful

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 26 days I will continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day seven with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God to be faithful through a life of patient endurance.

Called to Be Faithful

“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.”
Revelation 14:12 (NIV)

How often do you feel like giving up?  Why?  Do you?  Are there things you ought to give up on?  What things should you never give up on?  How do you know the difference?  When you think of being faithful, is there a specific person that comes to mind?  Who?  Why?  Do you think of yourself as a faithful person?  Why?  Would the people who know you best agree?  Why?  How should being called by God to be faithful influence the way you view your ability to be faithful and the patience you approach life with?

When I think about being faithful, I think more about a steadfast pursuit of something than I think about having actually arrived.  The destination is great, but many times our impatience causes us to change course before we accomplish what God desires to do in and through us.  God’s desire is that weariness or distraction would not cause us to give up before we reap the harvest of righteousness He has in store for us.  When we respond to God’s call to be faithful with a steadfast “Here am I”, we commit to a life that doesn’t give up in our pursuit of Him.  In a world filled with broken promises, be one who is faithful.

As you pray about being faithful, ask God to help you see your decisions and actions from an eternal perspective.  Pray that you would not become weary in doing good.  Pray that the evil in the world would not distract you nor entice you into a life that is unfaithful.  Pray for the wisdom to understand the direction God has set forth in His Word, and for the courage to be steadfast in following His direction no matter what.  Pray that your life would be an example to others.

In prayer,

Tom  

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Encouragement & Prayer (5/8/20)

 

This is the audio from the May 8, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Here Am I: Called to Eternal Glory
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Here Am I: Called to Eternal Glory

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 27 days I will continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day six with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God to be counted worthy.

Called to Eternal Glory

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)

What is the most glorious thing you have ever seen?  How long did that glory last?  Why?  What is it that gives something its glory?  What things cause that glory to fade?  How does a focus on the difficulties of life affect your view of the future?  Why?  What would a continual focus on a future of eternal glory do to your view of the suffering you experience?  Why?  Which is easier to focus on, the present or the future?  Which has the greater reward?  What will you do to live as one who has been called to an eternal glory?

Many people try to overcome discouragement by seeking out something new and shiny to lift their mood.  Whatever we purchase to get us through our struggles here on earth will eventually wear out and lose its glory and our encouragement is short-lived.  When God calls us to an eternal glory, He gives us glimpses of it throughout life. In this way, the glory which carries us through our suffering doesn’t fade; rather it is ever-increasing until we experience it in its fullness with Christ.  While our enemy wants us to focus on the troubles of life so that we would give up, God calls us to focus on an eternal glory for all who are faithful.

As you pray about being called to an eternal glory, ask God to help you keep your eyes fixed on the glory that is found in Him.  Pray that you would not lose heart in the midst of life’s hardships.  Pray that your life and words would be reminders to others of the glory that is yet to come.  Pray that you would know the greatness of God’s glory as you allow it to give perspective to your current sufferings.  Pray for the courage to allow God to strengthen you as you rest in Him.

In prayer,

Tom  

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National Day of Prayer Encouragement & Prayer (5/7/20)

This is the audio from the May 7, 2020 National Day of Prayer live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

In prayer,
Tom